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World Languages

Learners of languages are categorized into novice, intermediate, advanced, and distinguished by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages. These levels do not correspond directly to levels 1 – 4 and AP as offered at OHS. Students in AP Spanish or AP German are just starting to produce and understand language at the low to mid intermediate level. For all levels, the learning outcomes remain very similar; it is the complexity of the language that increases. For example, a student in level 1 taking part in a conversation is expected to understand a simple and practiced question in the present tense, while a student in level 4 taking part in a conversation is expected to be able to use a variety of verb tenses.

I can recognize a few memorized words and phrases when I hear them spoken.

Mid

I can recognized some familiar words and phrases when I hear them spoken.

High

I can often understand words, phrases, and simple sentences related to everyday life. I can sometimes understand the main topic of what is being said.

Intermediate

Listeners can understand information conveyed in simple sentence-length speech on familiar or everyday topics. They are generally able to comprehend one utterance at a time while engaged in face-to-face conversations or in routine listening tasks such as understanding highly contextualized messages, straightforward announcements, or simple instructions and directions. They understand speech that conveys basic information. This speech is simple, minimally connected and contains high-frequency vocabulary. They are most accurate in their comprehension when getting meaning from simple, straightforward speech. They are able to comprehend messages found in highly familiar everyday contexts.

Low

I can understand the main idea in short, simple messages and presentations on familiar topics. I can understand the main idea of simple conversations that I overhear.

Mid

I can understand the main idea in messages and presentations on a variety of topics related to everyday life, personal interests, and studies. I can understand the main idea in conversations that I overhear.

Reading

Novice

Readers can understand key words and cognates, as well as formulaic phrases that are highly contextualized. They are able to get a limited amount of information from highly predictable texts in which the topic or context is very familiar, such as a weather map. They may rely heavily on their own background knowledge and extra-linguistic support (such as the imagery on the weather map) to derive meaning. They are best able to understand a text when they are able to anticipate the information in the text.Recognition of key words, cognates and formulaic phrases makes comprehension possible.

Low

I can recognize some memorized words and phrases when I read.

Mid

I can understand some learned or memorized words and phrases when I read.

High

I can understand familiar words, phrases, and sentences within short and simple texts related to everyday life. I can sometimes understand the main idea of what I have read.

Intermediate

Readers can understand information conveyed in simple, predictable, loosely connected texts. They rely heavily on contextual clues. They can most easily understand information if the format of the text is familiar, such as in a weather report or a social announcement. They are able to understand texts that convey basic information such as that found in announcements, notices and online bulletin boards and forums. They are able to understand messages found in highly familiar, everyday contexts. They may not fully understand texts that are detailed or those texts in which knowledge of language structures is essential in order to understand sequencing, time frame and chronology.

Low

I can understand the main idea and supporting details of short and simple texts when the topic is familiar.

Mid

I can understand the main idea and supporting details of texts related to everyday life and personal interests or studies. I can identify the audience for whom the text is intended.

Language

Vocabulary (all levels)

I can determine the meaning of unfamiliar words using cognates, roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

I can use context to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

I can use the assigned vocabulary of each unit in writing and speaking.

Grammar

Novice

I can conjugate verbs in the present tense.

I can use correct word order in simple statements and questions.

I can use the correct gender of nouns.

Intermediate

I can conjugate verbs in past tenses.

I can use correct word order in simple statements and questions, including sentences with dependent clauses.

I can use adjectives and prepositions correctly.

Speaking

Interpersonal

Novice

Novice-level speakers can communicate short messages on highly predictable, everyday topics that affect them directly. They do so primarily through the use of isolated words and phrases that have been encountered, memorized and recalled. Novice-level speakers may be difficult to understand even by the most sympathetic interlocutors accustomed to non-native speech.

Low

I can communicate on some very familiar topics using single words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized. I can answer questions on very familiar topics using single words and phrases.

Mid

I can communicate on some very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized. I can answer questions on very familiar topics using phrases and memorized simple sentences. I can ask very basic questions on familiar topics.

High

I can communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. I might have several alternatives for asking and answering questions.

Intermediate

Speakers at the Intermediate level are distinguished primarily by their ability to create with the language when talking about familiar topics related to their daily life. They are able to recombine learned material in order to express personal meaning. Intermediate-level speakers can ask simple questions and can handle a straightforward survival situation. They produce sentence-level language, ranging from discrete sentences to strings of sentences, typically in present time. Intermediate-level speakers are understood by interlocutors who are accustomed to dealing with non-native learners of the language.

Low

I can communicate and exchange information on a number of familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. I have several alternatives for asking and answering questions.

Mid

I can participate in conversations on familiar topics using sentences and series of sentences. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering a variety of questions. I can usually say what I want about myself and my everyday life.

Presentational

Novice

Novice-level speakers can communicate short messages on highly predictable, everyday topics that affect them directly. They do so primarily through the use of isolated words and phrases that have been encountered, memorized and recalled. Novice-level speakers may be difficult to understand even by the most sympathetic interlocutors accustomed to non-native speech.

Low

I can present information about myself and some other very familiar topics using single words or memorized phrases.

Mid

I can present information about myself and some other very familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases, and memorized expressions.

High

I can present basic information on familiar topics using language I have practiced using phrases and simple sentences.

Intermediate

Speakers at the Intermediate level are distinguished primarily by their ability to create with the language when talking about familiar topics related to their daily life. They are able to recombine learned material in order to express personal meaning. Intermediate-level speakers can ask simple questions and can handle a straightforward survival situation. They produce sentence-level language, ranging from discrete sentences to strings of sentences, typically in present time. Intermediate-level speakers are understood by interlocutors who are accustomed to dealing with non-native learners of the language.

Low

I can present information on a variety of familiar topics using a series of simple and some connected sentences.

Mid

I can make presentations in an organized way on school, work, and community topics I have researched. I can make presentations on some events and experiences in various time frames.

Writing

Interpersonal

Novice

Writers at the Novice level are characterized by the ability to produce lists and notes, primarily by writing words and phrases. They can provide limited formulaic information on simple forms and documents. These writers can reproduce practiced material to convey the simplest messages.

Low

I can communicate on some very familiar topics using single words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized. I can answer questions on very familiar topics using single words and phrases.

Mid

I can communicate on some very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized. I can answer questions on very familiar topics using phrases and memorized simple sentences. I can ask very basic questions on familiar topics.

High

I can communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. I might have several alternatives for asking and answering questions.

Intermediate

Writers at the Intermediate level are characterized by the ability to meet practical writing needs, such as simple messages and letters, requests for information and notes. In addition, they can ask and respond to simple questions in writing. These writers can create with the language and communicate simple facts and ideas in a series of loosely connected sentences on topics of personal interest and social needs. They write primarily in present time, though they can also use past tenses with some degree of accuracy.

Low

I can communicate and exchange information on a number of familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. I have several alternatives for asking and answering questions.

Mid

I can participate in emails, letters, and text messages on familiar topics using sentences and series of sentences. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering a variety of questions. I can usually say what I want about myself and my everyday life.

Presentational

Novice

Writers at the Novice level are characterized by the ability to produce lists and notes, primarily by writing words and phrases. They can provide limited formulaic information on simple forms and documents. These writers can reproduce practiced material to convey the simplest messages.

Low

I can write some familiar words, characters, or phrases.

Mid

I can write lists, memorized phrases, and simple sentences on familiar topics.

High

I can write shore messages or notes on familiar topics related to everyday life.

Intermediate

Writers at the Intermediate level are characterized by the ability to meet practical writing needs, such as simple messages and letters, requests for information and notes. In addition, they can ask and respond to simple questions in writing. These writers can create with the language and communicate simple facts and ideas in a series of loosely connected sentences on topics of personal interest and social needs. They write primarily in present time, though they can also use past tenses with some degree of accuracy.

Low

I can write briefly about most familiar topics and present information using an organized string of simple sentences.

Mid

I can write on a wide variety of topics using connected sentences and paragraphs.